Flower Skirt

This skirt has been a WIP for about a year now. It started as a dress from the Simplicity 1755 pattern. I had cut all my fabric out in the wrong size and was devastated that I had wasted such nice fabric until I had a bright idea. I would take the skirt, which was supposed to be pleated, and gather the fabric to make a dirndl skirt.

I had already attached the pockets and sides all together except for the back. All I needed to do was to gather the skirt, install a zipper, make a waistband, and hem.

I installed the zipper by sewing the two back pieces together and then laying the zipper in the seam and sewing it down. Then I ripped the seam to expose the zipper. I didn't have an invisible zipper and figured it wouldn't look too bad this way. 

I made the waistband from two rectangles cut to a few inches past my waist measurement to make the tab for the button. I interfaced one side and ironed down one side of the other to match my seam allowance. I sewed these two pieces together and turned it right side out and ironed it to make a crisp edge. I gathered the skirt and pinned it to the waistband and sewed it on. The side that was ironed to the seam allowance was then whip stitched to the skirt.

Next I sewed the button hole on my skirt tab and then installed the button. I don't know why I used grey thread to sew the button on. I think my thought was that "the whole rest of the skirt was sewn with grey thread". I probably will change it at some point.

When all that was done I hemmed the skirt by pressing over 1/4" and then 1/2" of the hem.